Festooning machine



Jan. 1'7, 1950 N. MOORE 2,494,557

FESTOONING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1947 v 4 Shecs-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

RALPH NMDORE i BY mfl ATTD R N EYS Jan. 17, 1950 R. N. MOORE 2,494,667

FESTOONING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. RALPH M Mo on:

ATTCI RN EYB .F. 17, 1950 R. NMOORE FESTOONING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1947 I N VEN TOR.

ATTD R N EYE! R. N. MOORE FESTOONING MACHINE Jan. 17, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1947 INVENTOR.

, M m P ATTD RN EYB Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a festooning machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a festooning machine which may be loaded with boughs or branches at a remote point from the winding element and on an arm which periodically can be brought upwardly with the boughs to locate them upon a member which retains them while being connected to a central wire by a wire which is wound about the boughs and wherein there is provided in the hand or device into which the boughs are placed an automatically operated lever which as the arm is brought over to locate the boughs on the wire will release the boughs for delivery to the winding holder or hands.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a festooning machine wherein there is associated with the driving parts a brake adapted to retain the parts against turning movement at all times except when released by the operator upon his stepping upon a foot treadle, the release of which will stop the winding holder and wherein such brake includes a wheel which is a part of the driving mechanism and rotates and wherein the brake surface is provided on a stationary part, the wheel being adjustable into and out of engagement with the stationary part and whereby to keep the number of parts within the machine to a minimum.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism for retaining in proper fashion the wire which is wound about the boughs upon the central wire and wherein this part can also serve as a countershaft to transmit power to other working parts of the machine and thereby in this manner keep the number of working parts on the machine to a minimum.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a festooning machine with which a large output of festoon can be had with little effort, wherein such machine is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of my festooning machine looking upon the bough feeding arm and illustrating in dotted lines the manner in which it is extended to the holder about the wire.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my machine.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my machine showingthebrake operated lever extending there- 2 from and the wire coils from which both the central wire and the winding wire is extended.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the winding wire holder with portions broken away and shown in section to show the interior thereof and the manner in which the wire is retained therein.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary and crosssectional view of a post device on the winding wire holder for retaining the wire externally of the holder and through which it is fed and kept tight by the same.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional view taken generally on line 6-43 ofFig. 2. v

Referring now to the figures, l0 represents a bench-type frame having legs II and vertically spaced transversely extending frame portions l2, l3 and M. Th frame portion I2 is vertically adjustable in the legs I l whereby a tightening of the driving chains or belts to be mentioned can be effected. Elongated slots 55 are provided in the legs II to permit the vertical adjustment of the frame portion 12 and screws l6 when tightened fix the frame portion to the legs I l in the differently adjusted positions thereon. I

On the frame portion l2 there is mounted an electric motor I! having a multi-groove pulley l8 connected by a belt 19 to a pulley 2| on a countershaft 22, journalled on frame portions I3.' On the shaft is a friction pinion 23 engaging with a wheel 24 to drive the same. This wheel 24 is fixed on a shaft 25 journalled in an adjustable and eccentric part 26 which is in turn supported in bearing blocks 21. An arm 28 extends from the eccentric 26 and can be adjusted to move the wheel 24 into engagement with the pulley pinion 23 on shaft 22 so that the wheel 24 will be driven. A spring 29 cooperates with the arm 28 to keep the eccentric 26 adjusted so that normally wheel 24 will be maintained'in engagement with a stationary brake element 3|, Fi 6. Thus the wheel 24 is retained normally against rotation. To place thewheel 24 in engagement with the pinion 23, a foot treadle 32 pivoted to the bottom frame portion 12 as indicated at 33, is depressed. To this treadle there is connected a link 34, a spring 35 and a link 36 which are connected together in chain fashion and connected with the treadle 32 through the link 34. The upper end of the link 36 is connected to an arm 31 fixed to a shaft 38 and journalled in bearing brackets 39. At the opposite end of the shaft 38 is an arm 4! which is connected by a link 42 to the eccentric arm 28. Accordingly as the treadle 32 is depressed, the wheel will be brought into engagement with the pulley pinion 23. Upon release of the treadle, the wheel will be returned to the brake 3 I.

On the top portions I4 there is journalled in bearings 44 and 45 thereon a winding wire holder 46 having sprockets 41 and 48 thereon. Through this holder there is extended a central or large diameter Wire 49 to which boughs and winding wire 52 are connected. A holder or retainer for boughs 5i is provided on the end of the wire holder as indicated at 53 and is adapted to receive the boughs from a heating device 54 to be later described. The wires 49 and 52 are fed from reels 54 and 55 journalled on the frame Hi. The wire 52 which is used for winding is extended through a spring retaining device 56, Fig. 5, on the holder 46. This spring device serves to keep the winding wire 52 tight within its holder, and as it is wound over the boughs. This tightening device comprises a collar 58 which is fixed by an adjustable bolt 59 to the holder shaft or pipe 6| through which the central wire 48 extends. On the bolt 59 .are washers .62 and '63 .between which the wire 52 is extended. A spring 6'4 urges the washer 53 toward the washer 62. The spring 64 reacts against the collar 58.

Onshaft is a sprocket 65 which is connected by a chain 65 with the large sprocket 41 .on the wire .holder or spindle 46. On the frame v:por- .tion 12 there is provided bearing brackets 66 'in which .journalled a shaft 61 having sprocket 6B thereon which is connected by a chain '69 with the small sprocket .48 on the wire .holder .or spindle 45. Accordingly shaft 61 :can be driven from. the wire holder .or spindle 46.

The .bough afieeding device .54 comprises along arm ll which is pivotcdat 1-2 to the irame portion 42 and is normally urged against .a roll stop "1:3 .on .one of the legs H by a tension spring :14 connected to the lower .end of .the arm PH and .below the .pivot connection .12 and anchored as indicatedat 15 toan opposite .leg H of the frame. The upper ended the arm H has cradle .means FIB .for receiving a group of boughs ll. Aclamp l8 is pi-votcd on the cradle at 19- and is retained against the boughs 1-1 by .a tension spring -8l.. .The cradle 75 is pivotally connected on the end .of the .arm H at 82 and a long arm -83 depends therefrom. This arm 83, .as the :device .54 swung toward the bough receiving portion 53 of the holder 42, to release the boughs III, will serve to tilt the cradle [5 upon its pivot 82 .lI-l the manner as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. i. This movement of the :arm 83 is effected :by the engagement -.of the arm with "a stop 85 -on the irame portion l3, Fig. 1. The clamp 18 will be released upon engagement with the bough receiving :portion 53 whereby to automatically -deliver the zboug-hs l! to the portion 53 through the wires are extended.

The movement of the *feed device '54 is automatic and is :effected by a crank :arm 81 connected to a-shaft 88. This shaft has a sprocket B9'connected by acha-i-n 91 withasmallsprocket .92 on the :shaft 161.. The outer end of the crank arm 8.! is connected by a link l4 and a swivel 95 to :the arm iii. The arm H maycome to :rest on'its inward movement against a stop -96. The driving relationship between the par-ts is such that for ifour turns of the bough receiving portion .53, there will "be 'one turn of :crank arm 81 :and hence one delivery of the boughs 1-! to the portion 53. The resulting product is a 'festoon of boughs.

.-It should mow be apparent that there has been provided a festooning machine which is automatic, of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A festooning machine comprising a frame, a wire holder and spindle journalled on the frame and comprising a central tube for containing a central wire, means externally of the central tube for containing a winding wire which is connected at one end to said central wire, a bough receiving portion on the spindle, :-a feed device for delivering boughs to the bough receiving portion on the spindie, drive mechanism for driving the spindie and the bough feed mechanism whereby upon a given number of turns of the spindle the boughs will be delivered to the bough receiving portion, and the winding wire will be wound upon the :boughs to bind said boughs to said central -wire, said bough feeding device comprising an arm pivoted on the frame and having a cradle connected to the upper end of the arm for receiving the boughs and adapted to be swung toward the bough receiving portion of the spindle, said drive mechanism including a crank and a link extending between the end of the crank and the arm whereby to move the arm periodically from the bough receiving position to the lbough receiving portion of the spindle.

2. A festooning machine as defined in claim 1 and said cradle being pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm, an arm depending from the 'cradleand adapted to cause the pivotal movement of the cradle upon the arm of the bough feeding device as the arm is moved toward the bough receiving portion of the spindle whereby to locate and cause the cradle to be drawn through the 'bough receiving portion of the spindle.

3. A festooning machine comprising a frame, a wire holder and spindle journalled on the frame and comprising a central tube for containing -a central wire, means externally of the central tube for containing a winding wire which is connected at one end to said central wire, a bough receiving portion on the spindle, a iced device for delivering boughs to the bough receiving portion on the spindle, drive mechanism for driving the spindle and the bough feed mechanism-whereby upon a given number of turns of the spindle the boughs will be delivered to the rbou'ghtreceiving portion and the winding wire willibe 'wound'uponithe boughs to bind said boughs to said central wire, said driving mechanism including a pulley pinion and a wheel adapted to be'engaged by the pulley pinion to drive the wheel, means for mounting the wheel on the frame to be moved into and out of engagement with the pinion, a manually operative device connected with said adjustable means to effect its operation at the will of the operator of the machine.

'4. A festooning machine as defined in claim 3, and a brake surface adapted to be engaged by the wheel in its return position from engagement with the pinion whereby to bring the holder or spindle to an immediate stop.

5. A festooning machine comprising a frame, a wire holder and spindle journalled on the frame andcomprising a central tube for containing a central wire, means externally oi the central tube for containing a winding wire which is connected at one end to said central wire, a. bough receiving portion on the spindle, a feed device for delivering boughs to the bough receiving portion on the spindle, drive mechanism for driving the spindle and the bough feed mechanism whereby upon a given number of turns of the spindle the boughs will be delivered to the bough receiving portion and the Winding wire will be wound upon the boughs to bind said boughs to said central wire, said spindle having a wire retaining device for maintaining the wire which is wound over the boughs in a tight condition when effecting the winding operation.

RALPH N. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

